I feel lucky to have recorded this live set by the late Sunnyland Slim, one of the half dozen founders of Chicago blues in the early ’40s. He was in fine form—shouting, stomping and rollicking in the barrelhouse tradition he pioneered. “…a magical performance,” according to Blues Revue. He had the strongest left hand of any blues pianist I’d ever heard and a huge, raw, whiskey-throated voice. The CD unlocks the percussiveness of his piano and the commanding rasp of his voice. Hi-Fi News & Record Review loved it “…superbly recorded blues by the genuine article…comes across like a bar-room session. Too cool for words [A* for sound].” (#56302)

Sunnyland Slim, piano

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REVIEWS:

Tri-City Herald:
reviewed by Scott Spence

When asked who influenced their music styles the most, Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Joe Cocker and B. B. King have all named the likes of Tampa Red, Jump Jackson, Little Walter and Muddy Waters. Waters was so internationally influential that annual awards for blues music are named after him.

But who influenced these eminent musicians from the '40s and '50s? Sunnyland Slim.

Born Albert Luandrew, he changed his name at 15 to Sunnyland Slim after teaching himself blues piano so well that he had steady work performing in Mississippi in 1922. Since, he performed on at least 40 records and wrote nearly 60 blues originals, many of which have become standards.

This just-released recording was made in 1987 and, unfortunately, was Slim’s last before his death. He was 80 when he played these songs, but each displays more energy and enthusiasm for the blues than could be conjured up by someone half his age.

The fourteen cuts on this album are all Slim, his voice and a piano. Nine were penned by Slim and the others have been adapted by Slim such that they may as well be his.

The album is on Mapleshade, specialized in audiophile quality live recordings. They all have a distinctive, natural sound. Each album is recorded directly to tape without the “benefit” of electronic magic. Sunnyland Slim has never been captured like this before, and never will again. If you like blues, this is a don’t miss.

August 11, 1995

Hi Fi News and Record Review :

...above, superbly recorded blues, only this time from the genuine article. The gig comes across like a bar-room session, a jaunt through standards punctuated by some fine piano improvisation. Recorded in 1987, when Slim was a sprightly 80 years old. Too cool for words.

August 1992